Setts



May 28, 1929. MmGLEY 1,714,799

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING AND WINDING BIAS STRIPSFiled May 3, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l m M, w A J May 28; 1929. r. MIDGLEY.7 9

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING AND WINDING BIAS STRIPSFiled May 3, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 N VEN TOR. d

May 28, 1929. T. MIDGLEY 1,714,799 METHOD AND APPARATUS FORSIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING AND WINDING BIAS STRIPS Filed May 5, 1926 5Sheets-Sheet 3 f. 0 5 I i INVENTOR y 23, 1929- I T. MIDGLEY 1,714,799

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINUL TANEOUSLY CUTTING AND WINDING BIAS STRIPSFiled May 3, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v? 7 757 wd 7 INVEI TOR.

gRNF" I May 28, 1929. T. MIDGLEY 1,714,799

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING AND WINDING BIAS STRIPSFiled May 5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 26 n no r 5 I I" INVENTOR.

By M

A ORNEY.

Patented May 28, 19219.

Y THOMAS MIIDGLEY,"QF rrmvrrnnn', raAssAcnUsnTTs, ASSIGNOB To THE rrsr;RUBBER COMPANY, or cn'IoorEarAL s, MASSACHU$ETTS, A CORPORATION orMASSACHU- sET s.

. METHOD AND arraaa'ros FOR sIr/rn-LTArIEoUsLY c'n'r'rins AND wrnnmeinas STRIPS.

Application filed May 3,

This invention relates to a, method and an I filed May 10, 1926. Theinvention, however,

is not restricted to such use and may be applied to'the building ofso-called pockets or endless multi-ply bands of tire building materialformed without beads, or to the building of tire casings in flat orsubstantially fiat form on a support suchas adrum. It may alsobe appliedin certain aspects to the handling of bias-cut material in other mannersand for other uses.

The objects of the invention are generally the promotion of rapidity,economy and accuracy in the handling of bias-cut material. Referringmore particularly to the preferred use of the invention iii-the buildingof, tire casings, other objects appear, such for example as theavoidance ofhandling of the rubberized. bias-cut material between thetime when it iscut and the time when it is incorporated in thetirecasing; the elimination of storage of stock between the cutting andbuilding stages, with a consequent reduction of inventory'and apossibility of closer working to a desired schedule; the increasing oi:

" the accuracy with which the material is laid up in the tire, bothbecauseoii' the avoidance of handling of the material, with consequentermaterial warping or otherwise becoming distorted; and the reversalofthe cord angle in successive plies without the necessityoif reversingthe position of the pliesthem'selves prior to thebuilding operation.Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is. a diagrammatic plan view illustrative of the improved method;

Fig.2 is a side elevation thereof; 1'

Fig. 3 is afview on a larger scale, looking generally along line 38 ofFig. 1 but show- I 23'23 of Fig. 21;

ing a later stage of the operation; v

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is aiview similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the position of theparts after the the initiation of the 1926. Serial no. ioe,o4.

cutting and laying up of one ply of material;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sectionshowing the product of the operations up to this point; Flg. 8 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 5, showing v cutting and laying of a second ply-ofmaterial; i i

Fig. 9 is a top plan viewof Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar toFig. 8, showing I p the completion of thecutting and laying of vthe second ply of material;

:Fig. 11 is a top planview of Fig. 10;

Fig. l2'is a diagrammatic section showing the product resulting from thelaying of the first two plies of material; n n

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the band I of Fig. 12 inverted andprepared for further building operations in accordance with the methodof my copending application Serial Fig. 14 is a similar view showing theaddi tion of two more plies of material;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrative of the application ofmy invention to the production of pockets or to the building of flatband tire casings upon a drum;

I Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the initia tion ofthecuttingandlaying up of the second ply;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic section through thedrum and the partiallyconstructed tire casing thereon, showing'the mannerof applying'beads inthe building of a flat band casing by this modification;

Fig. 18 is a view similarto showing the chorages;

Fig. 19is a similar view showing the addition of two more pliesofmaterial;

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic plan view of a Fig. 17 but plies folded aroundthe bead anmodification in which two plies of material are cut and laidup at one operation;

F 1g. 21 is a diagrammatic elevation on line 2121 of Fig. 20, showingthe operation at Fig. 24 is a plan view of the two-ply strip cut asshown in the last four figures, this strip being shown for clarity asflat and not wound up showing the parts in the positions they occupy atthe completion of the cutting and laying up of the first ply.

In general, it may be said that my improved method contemplates thecutting of I bias strips from bias-cut cord fabric and rolling up eachstrip as it is being out. In its embodiment as applied to the buildingof tire casings, it contemplates the cutting of bias-cut strips from awide web of rubberized'cord fabric and winding the strips progressivelyas they are'cut to produce either a pocket or, by the addition of beadanchorages, a tire casing in flat form. I

In considering the steps of this process, it will be useful to havereference to a skeleton apparatus by which the method may beconveniently practiced. A more complete apparatus will be describedbelow. A web of cord fabric is, as shown in Fig. 1, fed

' out upon a belt 31. A carriage, upon which are mounted rolls 32 and33, is mounted for reciprocation across the path of the strip 30 along-adiagonal or bias line correspond ing to'the cord angle desired in thebias cut strips. The method has been shown in Figsl to l i as adapted tothe laying upof the bias-eut material directly upon endless beadanchorages according to the method of my copending application SerialNo. 108,083. For this purpose the rolls 32 and 33 are grooved, as at 31, for the reception of endless bead anchorages 35, preferablyconstructed of a metallic core witha fairly loose cover- .ing ofrubberized fabric. A pair of these endless anchorages are looped overthe rollers 32 and 33 and the rollers moved apart to bring theanchorages taut. Associated with the rollers are cutting devices 36 and37, preferably in the form of-rotating disks so mounted as to be capableof motion into and out of. the plane of the web 30. A roller 38 ismounted in association with one of the rolls 32 or 33, preferably thelatter, so as to press the biascut material firmly against therubberized coating of the bead anchorages.

IVith this elementary apparatus in mind, the production of a tire casingby my improved method will be considered. IVhen the various elements arein the position of Fig. 1 it will be seen thatan acute corner 39 of theweb 30 lies adjacent the roll The winding unit comprising the tworollers cutter 36 being depressed during this motion so as to severtheweb on a biashne in advance of the approach of roll 33 and in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. During this passage acrossthe web the rolls 32 and 33 are both held at such an elevation above thebelt 31 that they do not contact with it and are positively rotated, byany means or by hand, in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3. Duringthis movement of the winding unitacross the web, the severance of thebias strip by the cutter 36 is continuously and progressively followedby the winding of this strip upon the bead wires. The rotation of therolls will carrythis strip over the two rolls, and theaction of thepressure roller 38 will attach it firmly to the bead anchorages.

It is generally preferable to have the edges of the bias strip foldedaround the bead anchorages so that the latter are firmly locked into thebead edges of the tire casing. For

this purpose the cutter 36 is, as issh'own in .Fig. 4, offset from theplane of the adjacent bead anchorages so as to give a sufficient amountof stock for folding. Similarly, the originally bias-cut end 40 of theweb 30 is so positioned as to extend slightly beyondthe plane of theother anchorage'35 an amountsuflicient to give the overlap desired atthis point. The folding of the bias strip around the bead anchorages canbe accomplished by hand or by mechanical devices, either as aprogressive operation during the winding'up of the strip, or as asubsequent separate operat-ion. f It is preferable, however, to makethis folding operation progressively continuous with the winding, asthis method of procedure greatly reduces the time necessary for theproduction of a tire casing.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the winding unit is shown in the position it assumesafter the'ply cut as previously described has been completely wound up.The width of the web 30 is so chosen, either by its original formation.,or by the piecing together of two or more narrow webs, that the lengthof the bias strip cut from it will exactly equal the distance around theouter periphery of the bead anchorages. There-fore, after a completepassage ofthe winding'unit across the web, one complete ply of therubberized bias-cut material will have been severed from the web andadherently secured in position onthe" 42' and 43 tol dedaround the beadanchorages 35. It will be noted that the edge .42 is shown as beingwider than the edge 43. This istor tlie purpose of producing an offsetcondition I of the first ply with respect to the second, as ispreterableand as will more clearly appear below.

r Vith the parts in the position of Figs.

and 6, the web30 is advanced to the position indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 6, with the bias-cut leading end 44 of the web located in such apositionthat it will extend-beyond the edg'e of the partiallyconstructed tire casing on the winding unit a distance sufficient versewindin cated, whether niatically in F 12.

.tivelyishortei" and longer to provide the marginal overlap desired.

Thei'oll 32 isnow lowered to a position where it will'contactwith thesurface of the web 30 resting on the conveyor 31.

The return passage across the web 18 now made without theoperatorpicking up the corner of the web in the preceding passage. Theroll 32 being held in contact with'the' surface of; the web, thebias-cut strip pro duced will be picked up by adhesive contact with thefirstply 41. Cutting on the return stroke isaccomplished by the cutter37, this being lowered into operative position and the cutter 36 raisedout of the way of the web. The cutter 37 is shown in the drawings asbeing out 01": line with the cutter 36, so as to produce a differentamount of marginal overlap in the bias strips produced by them. Cuttingand winding in the return passage follow each other continuously andprogressively exactly as in the first passage, with the exceptionthatthe bias-cutstrip passes under the now leadingroll 32 instead ofover it as was'the case with the roll 33, which led on the firstpassage. As in the previous case, folding ofthe edges may beaccomplished either manually or by a suitable folding device. It may bementioned for clarity'that.

it is'iiiiii'iatei'ial from which side oftlie web the .OPGI'ELUOD isstarted 1n laying'up a twoply band," The picking up of. the corner ofthe web for what might be termed the, re-

- asin Fig." 3, is always done on fthe' starting of the stroke fromthatfside of.

the web atwhich the acute corner 39 is losage.

The position of the parts after" theconipletion of the stroke is shownin'Figs. 1G and -11, in' which the second ply 44 is completely appliedand folded'around the bead anchorages. The product resulting troin thesetwo passages acrossthe web is shown diagrams The overlapping edges 45and 46 of the second ply 44 are respecthan the marginal edges of theunderlying ply 41. The steppedoti efiiect thus produced is ofutility indistributingstresses in theti're casing and in preventing abrupt changesin thickness or flexibility.-

thisis the tirst orsecond pa If the method of my 'copending applicationSerial No. 108,083 is being followed, the two-ply band illustrated inFig. 12; is now removed from the winding unit and inverted,

bringing it to the conditionshown in Fig. 13.

Thisinverted band may now be placed on the same windingunit, or uponanother one hav ing rolls of slightly different contour, andby a forwardand back passage across the web, similar to those described above, .twoadditional plies 47 and 48 may be applied. "The application of these twoplies has not been shown in detail as it is similar to the application01 plies 41 and 44. The resulting fourply product is shown in Fig. 14.

This invention may also be utilized in the production of so-calledpockets, or multiply bands of bias-cut material formed endless withoutthe application of head anchorages and used in some processes in theformation of tire casings. If it is desired .to build pockets ofthistype, the winding unit'prev-iously described, comprising the rolls 32and 33, is replaced by a drum 49, the cutters.

36 and 37'and the roll. 38 remaining as be store. The leading corner 39of the web 30 is attached to the surface of the drum, either adhesivelyor mechanically, and the two passages across the web are made int-hecase of the winding unit previouslydescribed, the drum remaining out ofcontact with the belt on the first stroke .(Fig. 15) andin contact withthe web on the belt on the return stroke (Fig. The cutters arealternately elevated and depressed, as shown in these two figures, inthe same manner as described previously in the direct building'of a tirecasing.

If it is desired to construct a tire casing directly on a drum, this canbe done by laying up the first twoplies 50 and 51 as for the buildingofa pocket, placing the bead anchorages 35 over these plies, and foldingthe plies outwardly around the anchorages as at 52. Additional plies 53and 541113} now be applied in a similar manner, the resulting productbeing shown in Fig.19.

and roll 33 on the return, Changes in angles other than reversals can besecuredby varying the angle at which the cutting and winding unit ispassed across the web.

- Another method of laying two plies of material and securing a reversalof cord angle 'isshown in'Figs. 20 to 23. This modification makes use ofthe method of cutting bias strips described in my Patent 1,611,927.According to this method two webs of material and 56 are led insuperposed paths with their directions of length at an angle to eachother. The edges of the two strips are initially trimmed off along abias line 57. One of the cutting and winding units previously describedis now passed across the superposed strips along a line at right anglesto the bisector of the angle between the two webs. The winding unit isin this case supplemented by rolls 58 at each end which, as shown inFigs. 21 and 23, press the two webs together. The cutter 36, or 37 asthe case may be, severs the two superposed webs simultaneously and theyare wound up in the same manner as the single plies in the production ofa tire casing by the first described method.

In that passage across the superposed webs, the start of which is shownin Fig. 20, the roll 33 is caused torun in contact with the webs asindicated in Fig. 21. On the return stroke the leading corner 59 ispicked up and applied to the bead wires 35, as in the case of the corner39 in the first modification. By this means both passages of the windingunit can be utilized, two plies being laid at each passage. it is woundup is indicated in Fig. 2 1, the two plies being shown at 60 and 61.From the showing in this figure it can be seen that if it is desired, asit usually will be, to have the single-ply end portions 62 overlap eachother with the edges of the other plies forming buttjoints, this resultwill be had by rolling up the two-ply band as on a drum passed over itfrom left to right in Fig. 24, but will not be produced by a similarpassage from right to left. In the firstpassage the first contact of theband with the winding form would be the single-plyportion at the left,which would leave the edge of the second ply indicated by 63 exposed. Inthe passage from right to left the edge 6 1 of the twoply portion wouldlie in contact with the winding form, preventing a butt-joint beingmade-with the other two-ply'edge 63. It is for this reason that thedifferent method of winding is used on the two strokes. On the strokefromleft to right, as mentioned previously, the roll 33 is kept inrolling contact with the two-ply web on the belt. On the passage fromright to left the roll 32 is held out of contact with the belt and theleading edge 59 picked up as was the case with the edge 39. l

I will now proceed to describe a simple apparatus by which this methodmay be practiced. This apparatus is shown in as simple form as possiblein order to show the inherent simplicity ofthe method. Refinements, ofcourse, may be desirable in case it is neces *sary to increase the.speed of the apparatus.

, In the embodiment shown the web of calendered fabric is supplied upona conveyor The condition of the two-ply band as belt 71 mounted onsuitable rollers or pulleys 72 and 73. Extending across the conveyor ona diagonal or bias line is a'trackway 74: having suitable groove orother connection with a sliding carriage 75. At one end the carriage 75is.provided with vertical guideways 7 6 in which slides a box 7 7carrying the shaft 78 of a roller 7 9. This box is secured to a rockingarm' 80 pivoted at 81 to the carriage so that by a rocking of .the armroll 79 may be raised or'lowered a. slight amount. The arm projectsbeyond this roll and has-at its end a journal for the shaft 82 of acutting wheel 83. At the other end of the rocking arm is a similarbearing for the shaft 84 ofav cutting wheel 85. The shaft 82is'connected by a sprocket and chain 86 with a short shaft 87 journaledin the arm 80 and connected by gearing 88 with a shaft 89 mounted on thecarriage75 coaxially with the pivot 81.

A sprocket and chain connection 90-joins the shaft 89 with the shaft8 1. By applying suitable rotative power to the shaft 89, the

. cutters 83 and 85 will be rotated in the direcstops 96 mounted uponthe trackway. As the carriage approaches the end of its travel in eitherdirection, the arm contacts with one of the stops 96, causing the arm 95to be swung and the rocker 80 to be tilted in one direction or theother.

Carried in slides 97 in the carriage are blocks, 98 which may be held inplace by-any suitable means, as a taper pin 99. In these blocksisjournaled the shaft 100 of roll 101. A pressing roller 102 isconnected to roll 101 by gearing103 so that they rotate'in oppositedirections. On the shaft 104 of roller 102 is mounted a short swingingarm 105 upon which is carried a pinion 106 connected by a chain andsprocket 107 with shaft 10st. The pinion 106 is capableof meshing witheither a rack 108 or a rack-109, each mounted upon the trackway'r- 1.the end of the trackway serve to swing the arm 105 so as to causemeshing of the pinion alternately with the two racks. 1

. The operation of this device is. as follows. As the carriage ispropelled, by hand or by any suitable motive power, from that end of thetrackway at which it is shown in Fig. 25 to the other, both, rolls 79and 101 are out of contact with the underlying web 7 0 andcutter 85 isin operative position. During this arm 80, shaft 91 is Stops 110 atstroke the web will besevered to form a bias strip and this strip willbe wound up upon the bead anchorages, as'described in connection withFigs. 3 to 6. When the end of the stroke is reached, arms 95 and 105 areswung by them respective stops. The motion of arm 95 drops the roll 79into contact with the underlying web of fabric and shifts the cutterS3Zinto and the cutter 85out of'operative po sition.' The motion of arm105 shifts the pinion 106 into contact with theupper instead of thelower rack. V The result of this latter shift is to keep the directionof rotation'of the rolls 79 and 101m a constant di- 7 rectionirrespective of the direction inwhich the carriage is moved, for thepurposes disfcussed above in dealing with the method;

The manner in which the fabric is laid up upon the beadsanchorages neednot be repeatcd here as it has been thoroughly con-v sidered above. Ifthe edges of the fabric are to be folded around the beads, foldingmembers 111 maybe secured to a bar 112 mounted upon the'carriageI Thesefolders are shown as of the plowtype, servlng to turn the materialgradually aroundthe bead anchorages, firm adherence of the folded part aflat web, severing a bias-cut strip from the Web while so supported, androlling up the strip as it'is' being cut as an operation progressivelyand continuously following the cutting and while the strip is stillsupported in theposition in which it was cut, whereby accurate alignmentof the bias strip will be preserved dnrlng the rolling-upstep. V

"2. A method of forming .a carcass ply in the manufacture of tirecasingswliichcoln prises supportinga web of carcass material,

severing the web along bi-as'lines while so supported, andiwind'ing thebias .stripsso produced upon spaced annular bead anchorages while stillso supported. 7

A method of forming carcass pliesin the manufacture of-tire casingswhich comprises passing a winding form diagonally across a; web ofcarcass material adjacent a bias-cut end thereof, and severing the webupon a bias line in advance of thepassage of the form, whereby a'biasstrip is severed from the web and wound upon the form as successive andprogressively continuous operations.

5 v r 4. Amethod of forming a carcass ply in the manufacture of tirecasings which comprises supporting a pair of annular bead anchorages 'inspaced relation, passing the anchorages diagonally across a web ofcarcass material adjacent a bias-cut end thereof, severing theweb upon abias llne n advance of the, passage of the anchorages, and attach ngprogressively to the anchorages during such passage the bias strip soformed.

5. A method of laminating carcass plies in the manufacture of tirecasings which comprises passing a-winding form successively in reversedirectionsover a pair of fiat strips of bias-cut cord fabric, androtating the form in one constant direction during the two traverses,whereby the two strips will be laid upon the form with thcir'cordsextending in opposite angular directions.

6. .A method of laminating carcass plies in the manufacture of tirecasings and the like which comprises locating a winding form adjacentthe acute angled side of the biascut end of a web of cord fa'ln'ic,tackin the acute angled portion to the leading side of the form with itsend pointing upwardly, passing a cutter across the web upon bias line,thereby severing a bias-cut strip from the web, advancing the windingfe'rin across the web in the direction of the bias cutand rotatingpassing the winding form back across the web, and rotating the formduring this return passage in the direction resulting from w rollingcontact with the web, whereby the second bias-cut strip is wound uponthe form with its cords crossing those in the first strip at oppositeangles.

7. A method of laminating carcass plies in the manufacture of tirecasings and the like which comprises locating a winding form adjacent anacute angle of abias-cut strip, of cord fabric, tacking the acute angledportion of the st in to the leading side of the form with its mapointing upwardly, advancing the winding form across the strip and rotatiug it in the opposite direction from that which would result fromrolling contact with thestrip, whereb; the bias-cut strip is wound onthe form, passingthe winding form back across a second bias-cut striphavingits cords arranged at the same angles as in the first strip, androtating the form during this return passage in the direction resultingfrom rolling contaet with the strip, whereby the second bias-cut stripis wound upon the form with its cords crossing those in the first stripat-opposite angles.

8. A method of laminating carcass plies in the manufacture of tirecasings which comprises supporting a pair of annular bead anchorages inspaced relation, passingthe anchorages twice across a web of bias-cutcord fabric, severing the web upon a biasline in advance of the approachof the anchorages at "each passage, rotating the anchorages as inrolling contact with the web upon one passage and in the reverserelative directlon on the other passage, winding progressively asit is istill supported by said means.

cut the bias strip severed on each passage, and pressing the bias stripsinto adhesive contact with the anchorages as they are being wound up.

9. The method which consists in cutting bias strips from rubberized cordfabric, rolling up successive strips as they are being cut with the cordangle of one strip reversed with respect to a previously cut Sol'll),said strips being rolled one on the other.

10. A machine for building tire casings which comprises a tire buildingform, means for guiding the form diagonally across a web of tirebuilding material, means acting in ad vanee oi the form for severing abias strip from the web, and means coordinated with the form and thesevering means for applying the bias strip so cut progressively andcontinuously to the form.

11. A machine for cutting and winding bias strips which comprises awinding form, a cutter, and means for guiding the cutter and windin formdiagonally and progressively across a web to sever a bias .2 riptherefron'i andwind it upon the form as a continuous and progressiveoperation.

12. A machine for cutting and winding bias strips which comprises means"for sup porting a web of material, mechanism for severing the web alongbias lines while sup ported by said means, and a winding devicetraversing the support parallel, to the bias cuts and operating duringsuch traverseto wind up the bias-cut strips while they are 13. A machinefor making tire which comprises means for supporting a web of CZLI'CiLSSlHtIiLGIHQl, mechanism for serving the web along bias lines whilesupported by said bias stripswhich comprises means, a device for rollinga pair 01 head anchorages in spaced relation on a biaspath overandacross the bias strips while the strips are still so supported, andmeans A the strips into adhesive contact with the bead anchorages whilethe strips are still so sup ported. I i I 14. A machine for cutting andwinding means for supporting a web of material, a trackway extendingdiagonally across the web, a carriage mounted for reciprocation on thetrackway, and a cutting device and a winding form mounted upon thecarriage, the cutting device and the winding form being so positionedthat upon motion of the carnage across tor pressing the web a bias stripof material will be sevfor holding the winding device either in or outof contact with the underlying web, and a cutting device supported bythe carriage so as to sever a bias strip from the web in ad- Vance oi?the approach of the winding device;

16. A machine for making laminated bands 7 of bias-cut cord fabric whichcomprises'means for supporting a web of cord fabric, a trackwayextending diagonally across the web, a carriage mounted forreciprocation upon the trackway, carriage, means for rotating thewinding tievice in one direction irrespective of the direction of motionof the carriage, means for holding the windingdevice either in or out ofcontactwi'th the underlying web, a. pair of cutting devices supported onthe carriage at either end of thewinding device, and means for loweringinto cutting contact with the web that one of the cutting devices inadvance of the winding device.

17. A machine for making tire casings which comprises means forsupporting a web of cord fabric, a trackway extending diagonally acrossthe web, a carriage mounted for reciprocation upon the trackway, a pairof rolls spaced apart upon the carriage andhaving grooves for thereception of annular bead anchorages, means for driving at least one ofsaid rolls at a speed corresponding to the a winding device movable withthe I speed of translation of the carriage but in one 1 V constantdirection of rotation, means for pressing one of the rolls against theweb supice porting means while the carriage is being I moved in'onedirection and .for holding it away from such supporting means while thecarriage is being moved in the other direction, and cutting devicessupported at either end of the carriage'and at one side of: the rolls soas to sever a bias strip from the web in advance ot the carriage as thelatter is moved in either direction. V THOMAS MIDGLEY.

